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REVIEW: Shooting Japan on the HONOR Magic5 Pro

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Art Fuentes, ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img alt="HONOR Magic5 Pro Japan" src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2023/news/07/17/honor-magic5-pro-japan.jpg"/></figure></div><p>MANILA - The HONOR Magic5 Pro ticks off all the boxes demanded of a flagship phone. While its main selling point is definitely its excellent camera system, the Magic5 Pro also shines in a lot of areas where a flagship phone is expected to deliver.</p><p>It has a very nice screen, runs apps and games like a champ, has a ton of storage for all those photos and videos you want to shoot, and has a battery that won’t die on you during a full day’s use. And yes, it also looks pretty good too. </p><p>During a recent trip to Japan I was able to test just how good this phone is when it comes to photography and everyday use. I wasn’t disappointed. </p><div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img alt="The HONOR Magic5 Pro. Art Fuentes, ABS-CBN News" src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2023/news/07/17/honor-magic5-pro-front.jpg"/><figcaption>The HONOR Magic5 Pro. <em>Art Fuentes, ABS-CBN News</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>But first the specs. As a flagship device, the Magic5 Pro expectedly boasts of top-of-the line hardware, namely:</p><ul>	<li>Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2</li>	<li>12GB RAM</li>	<li>512GB Internal Storage</li>	<li>6.81-inch OLED screen</li>	<li>5100mAh battery</li></ul><p>If you’re into gaming or content creation, these specs have got you covered. Heck, it’s got even more RAM and storage than the Macbook I’m using to write this review. </p><p>If you plan to edit mobile videos, this phone can definitely handle it. If you want to do some gaming, this is more than capable of handling the most demanding mobile games out there right now. While the screen may not be up to par with dedicated gaming phones that can pump out 144Hz or even 165Hz, the Magic5 Pro’s 120Hz display is still very good for most games. The big 2848×1312 resolution screen is also bright and vivid enough at 1,800 nits peak brightness for use even in direct sunlight. </p><div class="media-content"><div class="slider-for"><div><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2023/news/07/17/ss1.jpg"/></div><div><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2023/news/07/17/ss2.jpg"/></div><div><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2023/news/07/17/ss3.jpg"/></div><div><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2023/news/07/17/ss4.jpg"/></div><div><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2023/news/07/17/ss5.jpg"/></div></div><div class="slider-desc"><div class="item-desc"><p>The HONOR Magic5 Pro.<cite> Art Fuentes, ABS-CBN News</cite></p></div><div class="item-desc"><p>The HONOR Magic5 Pro.<cite> Art Fuentes, ABS-CBN News</cite></p></div><div class="item-desc"><p>The HONOR Magic5 Pro.<cite> Art Fuentes, ABS-CBN News</cite></p></div><div class="item-desc"><p>The HONOR Magic5 Pro.<cite> Art Fuentes, ABS-CBN News</cite></p></div><div class="item-desc"><p>The HONOR Magic5 Pro.<cite> Art Fuentes, ABS-CBN News</cite></p></div></div></div><p>The sound from the stereo speakers is reasonably loud without being “lata” at its loudest. You could always wish for more bass, but in fairness I really have yet to handle a phone that delivers a good enough thump. </p><p>The fingerprint sensor works fast, and there is the option for accurate face unlock too as the selfie camera has a 3D sensor.</p><p>Its body is made of glass, secured with an aluminum frame. While I’m not really a fan of screens that curve to the sides, the execution of the design on the Magic5 Pro was pretty good– text and icons do not spill over to the sides, which was a bit annoying in other phones. </p><p>Battery life is good for a full day of casual, normal use, and if the juice begins to run out, you can fully charge it in less than an hour. </p><p>When it comes to just pure processing power, display and battery, the phone can hold its own against any Android flagship.</p><p>But where it truly shines is photography. Here’s what it has to offer</p><ul>	<li>50MP Wide Main Camera (f/1.6, with optical image stabilization or OIS)</li>	<li>50MP Ultra Wide Camera (f/2.0)</li>	<li>50MP Telephoto Camera (f/3.0, 3.5x Optical Zoom, 100x Digital Zoom, OIS)</li>	<li>12MP Front Camera + 3D Depth Camera</li></ul><div class="media-content"><div class="slider-for"><div><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2023/news/07/17/aa1.jpg"/></div><div><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2023/news/07/17/aa2.jpg"/></div><div><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2023/news/07/17/aa3.jpg"/></div><div><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2023/news/07/17/aa4.jpg"/></div><div><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2023/news/07/17/aa5.jpg"/></div><div><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2023/news/07/17/hp.jpg"/></div></div><div class="slider-desc"><div class="item-desc"><p>The Arashiyama Bamboo Grove in Kyoto, Japan captured on the HONOR Magic5 Pro.<cite> Art Fuentes, ABS-CBN News</cite></p></div><div class="item-desc"><p>Osaka Castle in Osaka, Japan captured on the HONOR Magic5 Pro.<cite> Art Fuentes, ABS-CBN News</cite></p></div><div class="item-desc"><p>The Todai Temple in Nara, Japan captured on the HONOR Magic5 Pro.<cite> Art Fuentes, ABS-CBN News</cite></p></div><div class="item-desc"><p>The Fushimi Inari Shrine in Kyoto, Japan captured on the HONOR Magic5 Pro.<cite> Art Fuentes, ABS-CBN News</cite></p></div><div class="item-desc"><p>Super Nintendo World in Universal Studios Japan in Osaka. Photo captured on the HONOR Magic5 Pro.<cite> Art Fuentes, ABS-CBN News</cite></p></div><div class="item-desc"><p>The Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Universal Studios Japan in Osaka. Photo captured on the HONOR Magic5 Pro.<cite> Art Fuentes, ABS-CBN News</cite></p></div></div></div><p>When this phone first came out in February, the venerable DXOMARK gave it the highest rating back then of any mobile device. Six months later, it is still in the top three.</p><p>I really liked having the Magic5 Pro with me while visiting Osaka, Kyoto and Kobe in Japan. It allowed me to take great photos and make a dream trip even more memorable.</p><p>Photos taken in daylight with the main camera, ultra wide and telephoto all look very good. Contrast, details, color accuracy are all top notch. Even photos taken with the 10x digital zoom looked good, thanks to the OIS. </p><p>Indoor shots taken with all three cameras were also excellent. Photos taken in the fading light at dusk were also very good.</p><div class="media-content"><div class="slider-for"><div><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2023/news/07/17/bb1.jpg"/></div><div><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2023/news/07/17/bb2.jpg"/></div><div><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2023/news/07/17/bb3.jpg"/></div><div><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2023/news/07/17/bb4.jpg"/></div></div><div class="slider-desc"><div class="item-desc"><p>The Todai Temple in Nara, Japan captured on the HONOR Magic5 Pro.<cite> Art Fuentes, ABS-CBN News</cite></p></div><div class="item-desc"><p>The Todai Temple in Nara, Japan captured on the HONOR Magic5 Pro.<cite> Art Fuentes, ABS-CBN News</cite></p></div><div class="item-desc"><p>This photo of a deer in Nara, Japan was captured on the HONOR Magic5 Pro.<cite> Art Fuentes, ABS-CBN News</cite></p></div><div class="item-desc"><p>This photo of a deer in Nara, Japan was captured on the HONOR Magic5 Pro.<cite> Art Fuentes, ABS-CBN News</cite></p></div></div></div><p>Night shots taken in Osaka’s ultra busy Dotonbori area were also very good. Taking a clear photo of a person with a very bright LED billboard in the background would have been a chore even with a professional camera, but this phone handled it easily. </p><div class="media-content"><div class="slider-for"><div><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2023/news/07/17/cc1.jpg"/></div><div><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2023/news/07/17/cc2.jpg"/></div><div><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2023/news/07/17/cc3.jpg"/></div></div><div class="slider-desc"><div class="item-desc"><p>Dotonbori in Osaka, Japan at night teems with people. Photo captured on the HONOR Magic5 Pro.<cite> Art Fuentes, ABS-CBN News</cite></p></div><div class="item-desc"><p>Dotonbori River at night. Photo captured on the HONOR Magic5 Pro.<cite> Art Fuentes, ABS-CBN News</cite></p></div><div class="item-desc"><p>The famous Glico billboard in Dotonbori, Osaka, Japan. Photo captured on the HONOR Magic5 Pro.<cite> Art Fuentes, ABS-CBN News</cite></p></div></div></div><p>However, shooting light sources such as lamps can sometimes result in lens flare artifacts. I think this is because of the glass that covers the whole camera module. It’s not a deal breaker, but you will have to take that into account when shooting at night.</p><p>The 100x zoom can even take usable photos of the moon. I’m not sure if the Magic5 Pro employs a similar technique to another brand’s “moon-gate” trick, but hopefully these pics are the real deal, as they are pretty good for a phone camera. They’re not anywhere near what a good SLR, long lens and tripod can produce, but all that gear won’t fit in your pocket either.</p><div class="media-content"><div class="slider-for"><div><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2023/news/07/17/dd1.jpg"/></div><div><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2023/news/07/17/dd2.jpg"/></div></div><div class="slider-desc"><div class="item-desc"><p>The half moon captured in the UP Diliman campus.<cite> Photo by Art Fuentes, ABS-CBN News</cite></p></div><div class="item-desc"><p>A photo of the lamps at the UP Academic Oval at night shows lens flare artifacts.<cite> Art Fuentes, ABS-CBN News</cite></p></div></div></div><p>The selfie camera takes some fiddling with, as it sometimes has a tendency to ‘white out’ the background when shooting against a bright sky or background. But once you get the hang of it, you can get really good selfie pics. </p><div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img alt="The HONOR Magic5 Pro’s selfie camera is wide enough to capture much of the scenery" src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2023/news/07/17/selfie-1.jpg"/><figcaption>The HONOR Magic5 Pro’s selfie camera is wide enough to capture much of the scenery</figcaption></figure></div><p>There are three ‘zoom’ settings for selfie camera, namely 0.5x, 0.8x and 1x. You don’t need to flip the phone to take what’s been dubbed as a ‘GenZ selfie’ as the front camera already has a wide field of view and takes very good photos.</p><p>Video creators will also be happy to know that this phone can shoot 4K at up to 60 frames per second. Stabilization was good, so you don’t have to worry about having shaky video even when handheld. Even the selfie camera can shoot 4K at 30 fps. </p><p>You don’t have to worry when getting this phone wet or dropping it in the dirt as it has an IP68 water and dust resistance rating, which means you can submerge in water up to 1.5 meters deep for 30 minutes without any problem.<br/> <br/>Overall, the Honor Magic5 Pro is a great phone for those who are looking for a powerful and versatile flagship device. At P59,990 it is also more affordable than other flagships, and at par with other flagships from Chinese brands. </p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/business/01/30/23/review-honor-x9a-5g-blends-beauty-with-toughness">REVIEW: Is the HONOR X9a 5G the smartphone equivalent of the indestructible 3310?</a></li>	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/business/11/17/20/huawei-selling-honor-brand-to-consortium-of-agents-and-dealers-to-keep-the-unit-alive">Huawei selling Honor brand to consortium of agents and dealers to keep the unit alive</a></li></ul>

While its main selling point is definitely its excellent camera system, the Magic5 Pro also shines in a lot of areas where a flagship phone is expected to deliver.

REVIEW: Shooting Japan on the HONOR Magic5 Pro

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REVIEW: Shooting Japan on the HONOR Magic5 Pro

Art Fuentes,

ABS-CBN News

Published Jul 17, 2023 10:37 AM PHT

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Updated Jul 17, 2023 11:20 AM PHT

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HONOR Magic5 Pro

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